Birmingham universities 'will lose £25 million' from EU exit

Birmingham University: The city's universities could millions in research funding

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They said: “We believe that the interests of our students, universities, and the prosperity that they bring to our city are best secured by remaining in the EU.”

The warning came in a joint letter from Professor Cliff Allan, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University ; Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham , and Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive of Aston University.

They said: “The forthcoming Referendum on EU membership will have important implications for our world-class universities and their students. In considering the issues, we urge the wider public to consider the vital role the EU plays in supporting our universities.

“Inside the EU, we are better able to collaborate with partners across Europe, to carry out cutting edge research, from medical and health care advances, to new materials, products, and services. Membership of the EU also ensures that we are a very attractive destination for global talent, including international students.”

And they added: “Currently our three universities receive in excess of £25 million in EU research funding.

“Nearly 3,000 students from the EU study at our universities, contributing directly to the prosperity and international character of our city.

“Across the West Midlands more widely, just under 10,000 EU students are studying at our universities and on an independent analysis they generate £219 million for the regional economy and support 2,079 jobs."

While the universities as institutions have no official policy on EU membership, the academics said they were convinced it was in Britain's interests to remain in.

Opponents of EU membership point out that the UK contributes more to the EU than it receives, and argue that if we left the EU then the nation could fund everything which the EU currently pays for and still have money left over.

The European Union referendum

As the EU referendum campaign continued, nature groups the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the WWF claimed that some of West Midland’s best-loved natural habitats and threatened species could be at risk if the UK votes to leave the EU in the referendum on June 23.

The EU’s nature conservation laws give special status to local habitats areas such as Cannock Chase and the River Wye which protects them from overdevelopment and pollution. Local wildlife such as otters and bats also benefit from strong EU protections that apply right across Europe, campaigners said.

Meriden MP Caroline Spelman, a former Environment Secretary, said: “As Secretary of State for the Environment, I saw first-hand how our membership of the European Union allows us to tackle the important environmental issues which transcend national boundaries together.

“Current measures, which are at risk if the UK votes to leave the European Union, help protect our distinct landscapes from over development and climate change. They have also supported the recovery of some of our most treasured wildlife, including the otter population; which was in a steep declining in the late 1970s due to the effects of local water pollution.”

Campaigners for and against EU membership have visited Birmingham to make their case.

Watch: Business Secretary Sajid Javid says Birmingham is better off in the EU

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Watch: Justice Secretary Michael Gove says Birmingham is better off out of the EU

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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn delivered a speech claiming that campaigners who want to leave the EU want to “water down workers’ rights” such as maternity leave and rights for temporary workers.

He also said a Labour government would veto the TTIP trade deal being negotiated between the EU and the US.

When US President Barack Obama visited the UK in April, he highlighted the trade deal as a reason for staying in the EU.

But Mr Corbyn said: “A few weeks ago the French President, Francois Hollande, said he would veto the deal as it stands and to become law any deal would have to be ratified by each member state.

“So today we give this pledge, as it stands, we too would reject TTIP – and veto it in Government.”